Republican Congressman Jim Jordan Knew About Ohio State Sexually Abusive Doctor, Six Wrestlers Allege

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was aware of a sexually abusive athletic doctor during his time as a coach at Ohio State University, according to a new report from CNN that cited six former wrestlers.

The wrestlers said Jordan heard the allegations of sexual misconduct against Richard Strauss despite his consistent denials. CNN noted that eight others said Jordan must have known about Strauss' conduct.

The latest report comes after a wrestling referee said in a lawsuit filed in November that he had told Jordan that Strauss had masturbated in front of him in a shower at Ohio State. Jordan called the claim "ridiculous."

The university first began investigating Strauss’ conduct in April 2018. Since then, it has been reported that Strauss sexually abused “at least 177” male patients from 1979 to 1998. Strauss served as a physician for the school's athletic department. He committed suicide in 2005.

Jordan worked as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1987 to 1995. He was elected as a congressman for Ohio’s 4th Congressional District in 2007 and currently is a ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.

Since the investigation of Strauss, many former wrestlers have asserted that Jordan knew of Strauss' conduct. Appearing on Fox News in July 2018, Jordan said the political left "sequenced and choreographed" lies about the allegations and attributed the attacks to his support of President Trump.

Speaking with CNN, Tito Vazquez, one of Strauss’ alleged victims, said he complained about Strauss to Jordan after a particularly troubling incident in which Strauss examined his genitals while treating him for a bloody nose. According to Vazquez, Jordan dismissed the situation, saying, “I have nothing to do with this.”

“When these complaints come and he pretends now that he had no knowledge of it, that's betrayal in the highest level,” Vazquez said.

Jordan hired a public relations firm to help fight the allegations.

“The idea that I wouldn't stand up for these athletes is ridiculous,” Jordan said in a recent interview. “I feel sorry for these guys, the fact that they aren't telling the truth. I mean these are guys I trained with, these are guys I worked out with, I ran with, wrestled with, and the idea that now they are saying what they are, it's just not true.”

Jordan was previously accused by former Ohio State wrestler Adam DiSabato of trying to cover up for Strauss. According to DiSabato, he received a call one night from a distressed Jordan, asking him to lie on his behalf.